Album Review

The soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean was originally composed by Alan Silvestri, who left the project prior to the film's release. Credited to Klaus Badelt, a protégé of Hans Zimmer, it was hastily assembled at the last minute, resulting in a paint-by-numbers exercise in big studio fluff that required the work of several unnamed composers. Badelt and his mysterious co-conspirators have created a schizophrenic pastiche of Hollywood excess — much like the film itself — disguised as a traditional score. The swashbuckling is propelled by an instantly unmemorable — albeit rousing — motif that contains bits of every action score in existence. "Fog Bound" starts off with a sprightly Celtic flair before dissolving into a generic Jerry Bruckheimer wash of keyboard strings and synthetic flute patches. This is the case for much of the record, resulting in inspired flashes of creativity here and there.

Customer Reviews

The Best Motion Picture Score of all Time

by
The Capt.

The Score to Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is the best adventure soundtrack of all time. Composed by Klaus Badelt, and Overproduced by Hans Zimmer, this swashbuckling score will have you screaming for more. This masterpiece will live on forever.
1) Fog Bound-(8/10){Creepy} It starts off with a lighthearted beginning and goes straight in to the discovery of Will Turner. It begins right after he has been brought onboard and Elizabeth has discovered the Aztec gold as well as her first sighting of The Black Pearl. It then moves into Will and Elizabeth's meeting in her home, directly after Will's sword delivery.
2) The Medallion Calls-(10/10){Fun} Continues from where Fog Bound left off at the Swann's residence and moves into the Introduction of one on the greatest characters of all time, Capt. Jack Sparrow. The track goes from Jack looking off into the cove, and covers all the way until his "First Step" onto the harbor. "What do you say to three shillings and we forget the name?"
3) The Black Pearl-(10/10){Creepy/Adventurous} This is the scene where Capt. Jack is holding Elizabeth hostage in order to escape from Commodore Norrington. From gunpoint, to flying through the air, to the blacksmith's shop, this track will please any pirate fan.
4) Will and Elizabeth-(10/10){Adventurous} This track takes place during Will and Jack's Fight in the Blacksmith's shop. "You cheated." "Pirate!"
5) Swords crossed-(10/10){Creepy/Scary} This track is where Barbossa tells Elizabeth the Tale, and she tries to flea only to be passed around the deck by the ghost Pirates. Eventually ending up next to Barbossa while he finishes his story and about the moonlight. "You best start believin' in ghost stories Miss Turner, your in one."
6) Walk the Plank-(10/10){Creepy/Fun} This track holds two different scenes in the film. The first is where Barbossa drinks wine and you see his bones soaked in the liquid, and he smashes the glass on the ships doors. The second is where Jack and Will take over the Dauntless. "Son, I'm Capt. Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"
7) Barbossa is Hungry-(10/10){Light Pressure} This is the entire boat chase between the Black Pearl and the Interceptor up until the shooting begins. "Stop blowing holes in my ship!"
8) Blood Ritual-(9/10){Romantic/Fun} There are two scenes that take place during this track. One is the scene between Will and Elizabeth bellow decks. The second is where the Interceptor tries to take over the Dauntless, and Jack and Will simply switch ships. "That has got to be the best pirate I've ever seen." "So it would seem."
9) Moonlight Serenade-(8/10){Slow/Adventurous} There are yet again two scenes that take place in this track. One is the scene between Jack and Elizabeth on the beach. The second is where Jack starts the climactic battle in the cave. "Me? I'm dishonest and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly? Stupid."
10) To the Pirates' Cave!-(8/10){Creepy/Adventurous} This scene starts out where Elizabeth is sneaking around the Black Pearl and she eventually reaches the Jack's imprisoned crew. Also where Governor Swann sees the Cursed Pirates for the first time. Which later moves in to the scene where Barbossa and Jack are fighting, in which Jack gets stabbed, and steps into the moonlight. "If you were waiting for the opportune moment. That was it."
11) Skull and Cross bones- (10/10){Adventurous} There are two scenes in this track. One is directly after jack pulls the sword from his gut and continues to fight Barbossa. While Elizabeth knocks the pirates off the deck of the pearl with the help of the life boat. The second is where Will is trying to escape the sinking Interceptor, which is about to explode, and later dose. Barbossa then throws Elizabeth to his crew and Will appears on the deck of the Black pearl. "Barbossa! She goes free!"
12) Bootstrap's Bootstraps- (10/10){Invading/Adventurous} There are two scenes in this track. One is where the black pearl invades port royal, and the second is towards the end of the fight in the cave. "You like pain? Try wearing a corset."
13) Underwater March-(8/10){Sad/Victorious/Scary} Barbossa is shot and dies sadly never able to eat his apple. The rest of the cursed pirates loose their skeletal form and give up fighting the Commodore and his men. The track ends with Will trying to talk to Elizabeth after the battle while jack sorts through the treasure, and the under water march of the skeletal pirates. "I feel...cold."
14) One Last Shot-(10/10) {Sad/Cheery/Romantic} Elizabeth realizes her love for Will and tells Commodore Norrington. While Jack Expresses his happiness for them then trips and falls off the cliff into the water below where the Black Pearl and his crew wait. Later Governor Swann expresses his feelings about the path she's chosen. After all he is a black smith. "No, He's a Pirate."
15)He's a Pirate-(100/10){Adventurous} Yes you saw correctly one hundred out of ten. This track is basically the end credits of a magnificent motion picture.
There are however some tracks that where not on this album like the full version of the invading black pearl, and Jacks escaping the gallows sequence. But never the less, this score is the best.
In closing if you enjoy soundtracks at all. Be most certain to pick this one up. For you will never forget the beauty of this marvelous original motion picture score. I give this CD a 10 out of 10. Bravo Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer, Bravo!

AWSOME MOVIE, AWSOME MUSIC!!!!!!

by
TheMusicofMySoul

Ever scince I saw the movie, I wanted the soundtrack to the movie. It has some of the most energetic music I have ever heard! It just makes me want to grab a sword and spar with someone while listening to it. My top favorites are "Will and Elizabeth", "Skull and Crossbones", and "He's a Pirate".

Really Good!!

by
piratefrodo

I love this soundtrack! This is one of the best soundtracks that I have ever come across in the way of the music completely matching the movie. In some places, you can almost say parts of the move to the music. This soundtrack has great bass effects and just everything about it is awesome! If you love Pirates (and good soundtrack music) as much as I do, then you will love this soundtrack. :-)

Biography

Born: June 12, 1967

Genre: Soundtrack

Years Active: '00s

A German born film score composer and producer, Klaus Badelt was born in Frankfurt in 1968. His first works were for films and commercials in his home country, but soon Badelt found his star rising, and was contributing to some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters of the early 21st century. The first of his works to get a high amount of notice and praise was his score for the 2002 Dreamworks movie, The Time Machine. From there he would go on to — either on his own, or in a...